Automation Engineering Technician I
Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories · Nampa, ID
- Level
- Engineer
- Team
- Controls
- Degree
- Required
- Experience asked
- 2+ years
- Industry
- Industrial
- Posted
- Recently
The role in 30 seconds
An engineer-level controls role at Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (industrial) in Nampa, ID. A mix of hands-on design work, problem-solving, and working directly with your customers.
- They ask for
- 2+ years · degree required
- Tools it names
- DOE, Robotics, Automation, Tooling
- Day to day
- some off-shift / weekend coverage
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of October 26, 2026
Controls Engineer roles in Idaho: typical posted base $90k–$150k.
Median of the low and high ends of 4 live postings that list pay, out of 8 controls engineer openings in Idaho, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
Idaho plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 7 other live controls postings in Idaho.
- Experience asked
- Less than usual (2+ vs 8+)
Similar roles usually ask 8+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ Automation 100%
- PLC 63%
- ✓ Robotics 63%
- AutoCAD 63%
- Team leadership 50%
- Root cause 38%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
At a glance
Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.
How to get in at this plant
Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.
- 1
Pick 2–3 people on the Controls team at Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories
We found 4 people at this company and state: 1 in this kind of role, 3 leaders. Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. See them ↓
- 2
Send a short, curious note
One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.
Write to Clint → (free) - 3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- How does off-shift and weekend coverage work?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
- 4
Apply with someone vouching for you
If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.
- 5
Bring proof to the interview
One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.
This plant: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories in Nampa
9 other open roles at this site · 4 people we found in controls roles at Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories.
- Process Engineer · Process
- Process Engineering Technician (2nd Shift) · Process
- Process Engineering Technician I · Process
- Mechanical Engineering Technician I · Reliability
- Senior Engineering Technician · Manufacturing · Senior
- Lead Quality Engineer · Quality · Manager
Automation Engineering Technician I at Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories in other locations
Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories lists this title in 2 places. Pick the plant you can get to.
Full description from Schweitzer Engineering LaboratoriesAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
responsibilities
- ◆You work well in team environments
- ◆You can pass a background check and drug test per SEL
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL) is looking for a people-oriented person to join our Product Support and Development - Mechanical team in our Manufacturing Division as a Robotics/Automation Engineering Technician in Nampa, Idaho. Our team develops and integrates mechanical and robotic solutions for our manufacturing facilities that enable us to build our products in a safer, more reliable, or more economical way.
A typical day as an Robotics/Automation Engineering Technician I might include:
- •A mix of hands-on design work, problem-solving, and working directly with your customers.
- •Collaborating on everything from problem statement creation to solution integration and closing out the projects.
- •Primarily assisting in the development of mechanical solutions that make our production environment safer, more reliable, and more economical.
- •Using tools like collaborative/industrial robotics, end-of-arm tooling, computer vision tools, and self-developed mechanical tools/fixtures.
- •Programming, hands-on assembly, and some CAD work are all regular things, whether you're building new designs or tweaking existing ones. Our solutions will be brought to life on the production floor so making sure they actually work in the real world is huge.
- •Designing quality and collaboration are a big part of our day, so expect to be involved in design reviews and giving/receiving feedback. While you contribute to projects as part of a small agile team, you'll be focused on delivering results on time and within budget while also developing your skillsets and supporting production staff to grow theirs as well.
This job might be for you if
- •You have a 2-year+ technical degree or the equivalent combination of training and work experience
- •Competence with applied physics, geometry, algebra, and basic trigonometry
- •Competence with industrial automation fundamentals: Controls, sensors, safety, industrial programming & networks, etc.
- •You have approximately 2+ years of experience in two or more of the following areas:
- •Automation integration
- •Materials and processes
- •Mechanics
- •Manufacturing engineering
- •Electronic manufacturing techniques
- •You have strong problem-solving skills
- •You have clear and effective communication skills—written, verbal, and documentation
- •You are quick to learn new skills and open to taking on new
It is a plus if you
- +Have worked with robotics, especially Universal Robots Cobots, and vision systems
- +Experience supporting design, automation, or general engineering in a manufacturing setting
- +Have written or run Design of Experiments before
Location: Nampa, ID – This position is located in Nampa, ID. You will enjoy a thriving community with a family-friendly atmosphere, affordable living, and convenient access to the amenities of the greater Boise metropolitan area. With nearby outdoor recreation, including rivers, lakes, mountains, and miles of trails Nampa also has excellent schools, local events, and a growing economy that makes it a great place to live and work.
Competitive pay. Superior benefits. Inspiring work.
People are at the core of our company and we hire employee-owners. We welcome you to learn more about how we support employees.
- +We’re 100% employee owned. Retirement benefits include an employer funded stock ownership plan (ESOP) and personal 401(k) options.
- +We offer top tier medical, prescription, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance.
- +We recognize the importance of a healthy life balance and offer: 10 paid holidays, annual vacation accrual starting at 12 days, 9 paid sick days, and paid family and medical leave that covers 90% of your pay.
- +We foster growth and development of our employees through avenues such as STEM courses, apprenticeships, tuition assistance, and engineering development programs.
- +Ask our team about other benefits including wellness, fertility, adoption, and flexible spending benefits.
Pay Range: $31.00-$46.00 per hour
Automation Engineering Technician I: $31.00-$46.00 per hour
Automation Engineering Technician II: $33.00 - $50.00 per hour
Automation Engineering Technician III: $39.00 - $59.00 per hour
Communication with Applicants
We communicate with all applicants. If you do not receive a response about your application, please check your SPAM filter or reach out to us at careers@selinc.com .